Information security and data protection

The past five years have seen unprecedented media coverage of high profile cases of data loss which have resulted in significant negative publicity. The impact is greatest where the loss relates to personal information. Our consultants will employ their significant experience to support you in ensuring you have appropriate data protection policies, strategies and processes in place to minimise the risk of an information security incident.

Information is a critical asset and it is essential that businesses implement and maintain robust data protection processes to ensure information is securely managed. The Information Commissioner was granted new powers in April 2011 to enforce financial penalties of up to £500,000 for a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.

What we do

Our knowledge and experience of the practical and legislative requirements of maintaining effective information security mean that we are able to ensure our clients minimise the risk of a data loss incident occurring.

We develop and implement information security management systems consistent with the requirements of the international information security standard, ISO27000.

We can also conduct reviews against ISO27000, produce a gap analysis and develop remedial plans to address any identified risk areas. This includes coverage of areas such as:

Security policy

Organisation of information security

Asset management

Human resource security

Physical and environmental security

Communications and operations management

Access control

Information systems acquisition, development and maintenance

Incident management

Business continuity planning

Compliance with legislation

Our reviews will also cover business processes to confirm compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Our approach

Our approach is as follows:

We work closely with our clients to understand their core business processes as well as the mechanisms through which they collect, maintain and secure the data they hold.

With increasing data sharing between organisations, we review the arrangements (legal and technical) for sharing data.

We reference best practice standards such as the international information security standards (ISO27000).

We ensure that business practices are consistent with the eight principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.

We highlight to management and staff the need to develop a positive culture towards information security and data protection within a business.